AviTrader_Monthly_MRO_e-Magazine_2017-02

ATR maintenance
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viding accurate and timely services
and the expertise and knowledge
from the aircraft manufacturer.
“Our customers give us a thumps
up on that product, it’s profitable
and it’s an emerging business.
Services represents about 15% of
our business now,” Scherer reveals.
In any case, the CEO affirms the
simplicity and the frugal nature
of the new ATR-600 airplanes in
relation to maintenance – “our
maintenance costs are predictable
and are lower than the higher cost
jets so we are a low cost, high
class solution.”
ATR is currently proposing a short
haul take off version of the ATR42 –
STOL (Short take-off and landing)
which will require some modifications
to the aircraft. “What we are
currently doing is testing the market
on it and we have some good
traction here and there but it is a
significant investment because the
main change will be the rudder.”
He explains that there is need for
more rudder control to take evasive
action in some small airfields
with obstacles, for instance where
you have a mountain on one side
so if you need to do an engine out
manoeuvre you need to be able to
turn against the good engine and
that necessitates a lot more rudder
control – “it’s a significant modification
and significant investment
so typically, the shareholders will
say they understand the logic
and the business case if we can
sell enough quantities and break
even. We are testing the market
and we are trying to secure one or
two deals that will allow us to have
a market validation.”
There are a few other modifications
– the other major one being
carbon brakes, “we have carbon
brakes on the 72-600 but we don’t
have carbon brakes on the -42 but
that is any easy thing to do. And
the last one is engine power, more
power to the engines,” he states.
GMAs help airline to ease maintenance costs.
Photo: ATR
AviTrader MRO - February 2017